Each NetBurner SB800EX allows you to securely and remotely access up to two serial devices as if they were plugged directly into your own computer, with no programming or development required. Optional integrated 802.11 b/g/n Wifi offers even greater flexibility for remote applications and cable-free installations. The SB800EX is extremely secure, featuring SSL/TLS, HTTPS and SSH security, so you don't need to worry about the safety of your data or controls.

Since the hardware is pre-programmed to convert your serial data to Ethernet, you can use it right out of the box. However, if you're looking to create custom applications, then look no further than the NetBurner Network Development Kit (NNDKs found on the SB800 EX product page). You can customize any aspect of operation including web pages, data filtering, data logging or custom network applications. This new product will allow users to take a leap when creating bespoke secure wireless networking projects with critical serial interface assets.

Highlights of the SB800 EX Serial to Ethernet device include:

2 Serial Ports jumperless configuration

RS-232, RS-455 and RS-485 baud rates up to 921,600 bps

10/100Mbps Ethernet

TCP/UDP/Telnet and DHCP/Static IP modes

Flash card interface for data logging (with required NNDK)

Real-Time Clock

Custom packetization of serial data

The ability to create a serial tunnel with two devices

Operating Temperature: -40° to 85° C

And more….

This new product allows current NetBurner SB72EX and SB700EX users to easily upgrade and also offers the opportunity to rebrand with your custom product label. For more information, including a full list of features, options, configurations and associated kits, check out the SB800 EX product page or get in touch with additional questions or for support.

This is the second part of the two part blog post; It will cover the more technical details of the robotic arm. If you have not read Part 1, you can find that post here. Part 1 gives a general overview of the project and contains a video of the arm in action.

The Duck Shepard robotic arm is designed to pick up objects. It can do this in an autonomous mode and a manual mode. In the autonomous mode, the robotic arm scans its surroundings looking for specific objects. Once it finds them, the arm will pick them up, place them to the side, and continue looking for other objects.

If a user connects to the Wifi access point and uses an Android phone app, they can override the autonomous mode and control the robotic arm manually. In this manual mode, the user can use the smartphone’s gyroscope and the app’s on-screen joystick to control the location of the arm.

*This is the first of two posts about the Duck Shepard robotic arm. This post will be an overview of the project and the second post will contain more technical information.

Recently there have been a stream of interesting robotic innovations. How could someone not get excited at a giant piloted American robot challenging an equally imposing Japanese one?

How can anyone resist the desire to have a robotic chef capable of imitating Michelin cooks?

In an effort to develop the knowledge and skills to recreate one of these, I decided to make a robot of my own. What came out is the Duck Shepard robotic arm. This robotic arm has been programmed to find and retrieve nearby objects. Over this project, I have ordered the robotic arm to herd a wild pack of rubber ducks.

Adding wifi is very easy to do (given the right tools). It's also full of potential pitfalls you need to be aware of. This article will be broken into two sections: how do you add wifi and what do you need to do it, and what to be aware of when designing your system or after something has gone wrong.